McCloy: Donald Trump of the Hunter?

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Former Newcastle Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy has hit back at suggestions he is the 'Donald Trump of the Hunter'.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley likened the former Lord Mayor to the Republican nominee, when calling for limits on expenditure for local government elections.

Jeff McCloy says being compared to Donald Trump is simply ridiculous.

"On reflection I think Donald Trump's got a better head of hair than Foley; its just politicians having a shot thinking they can grow their own position or make up some sort of political point, but that's what they do and I don't take much notice."

Jeff McCloy says a cap on expenditure would make it harder for independents to run and unseat the two major parties in local council elections.

In his election campaign in 2012, Jeff McCloy spent $144, 000, including $60, 000 on newspaper and television advertising. He says however that he lost much more in his business with the time he dedicated to the council.

Labor also want to ban property developers from standing for council elections, something Jeff McCloy says is misguided.

"You are duty-bound to manage any conflict of interest. Now anybody can have potentially conflict of interest, you simply don't vote or be present on matters where any of your projects or whatever are discussed."

Council reviews comunity childcare centres arangements

The future arrangements for five community childcare centres located on council-owned property will be debated next week

The proposed option of leasing the land to existing centres would allow council to scale recovery of it's cost over time, as well a providing a direct relationship between the rent and the number of places at each centre.

Newcastle Lord Mayor, Jeff McCloy, says the plan will secure the future of the centres.

"The recommendation is that we lease to the [community] groups so all the five community childcare centres on council owned land and council owned buildings. We need try and get some commerciality (sic) into this," Cr McCloy said.

Cr McCloy said that in the real world Childcare businesses had to buy their own land and pay for the building.

"I think this is a very fair proposal to these community groups they don't have to buy the land they don't have to build the building  they just have to pay some rent and maintain the building."

Cr McCloy hopes the plan will allow the Childcare centres to secure places.